President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. led the distribution of P16.04 million worth of assistance to families affected by devastating torrential rains in Misamis Occidental.
This after the plane carrying the President made three landing attempts before touching down at the Ozamiz City airport on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
According to Malacañang, Marcos led the distribution of relief goods in Tudela, Misamis Occidental. He was joined by Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
Some P55.81 million worth of financial assistance from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) has been provided to 11,133 beneficiaries in Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.
Of the figure, P8.67 million was provided to 1,733 beneficiaries in Oroquieta City.
Before this, President Marcos had a briefing with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal at the airport instead of Oroquieta City after his unsuccessful attempts to land in the latter.
The bad weather also prevented the President from doing an ocular inspection of Oroquieta City to see the extent of the devastation.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported moderate to heavy, with at times heavy rains in most of Visayas and Mindanao due to the Shear Line.
The low-pressure area also brought moderate to heavy rains across the country, including Mindanao.
In Misamis Occidental, 16,013 families or 56,853 persons were affected in 155 barangays.
Of the number, 3,122 families, or 9,928 persons, took temporary shelter in 41 evacuation centers.
Twenty deaths have already been recorded, including eight in Oroquieta City.
Meanwhile, eight roads were affected but are now passable, while two roads in Oroquieta City were opened to traffic on December 27.